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Tennis star Jelena Dokic alleges her father beat her nearly daily

All of which combined only to set the scene for redemption at the 2009 Australian Open.

The former World No. 4 has revealed she suffered physical abuse as a child and teenager nearly every time her father was displeased with her performance on the tennis court.

Damir Dokic was banned from all WTA events following unruly behaviour, which included threatening public officials and accusing Australian Open organisers of fixing the 2001 draw. A man who carries psychological scars from the war in Serbia.

She retired in 2014 with five titles in the top tier of women's tennis, but having never surpassed her 2000 success in a major.

Australian basketballer Andrew Bogut said Dokic's story was "absolutely brutal to read".

"I think you get to a stage after that happening for a couple of years where it's just your everyday life, and you accept it for just being normal", she told The Project.

Tennis Australia said in a statement.

"There were many in tennis at the time who were concerned for Jelena's welfare, and many who tried to assist with what was a hard family situation", read a statement. "Tennis Australia is working closely with the Australian Childhood Foundation to strengthen the safeguarding of children across sport".

Damir (l) abused Jelen for years, according to a new book from the former tennis star. Ellis: "It was such distressing reading".

"(He said) I was a disgrace and an embarrassment and I couldn't come home", Dokic told The Project. "Not just the physical pain but the emotional [pain], that was the one what hurt me the most. when you are 11, 12 years old and hear all those nasty things. that was more hard for me" (ABC, 11/12). "Someone must have seen it".

At the age of 16, Jelena Dokic became a household name in Australia and across the world.

"All of us at Tennis Australia applaud Jelena's courage in telling her story and will continue to support her in any way we can", the statement said.

"But the poor kid was suffering and I just feel sorry for her". 'I agree. I went overboard.

Others relayed their sadness at what Dokic was allegedly forced to endure.

Dokic, who was born in Yugoslavia but emigrated to Australia with her family when she was 11 years old, has laid bare the extent of the abuse she suffered at her father's hands in her autobiography Unbreakable, which was released this week.

The 34-year-old told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph: "He beat me really badly". It continued on from there. It spiraled out of control.

"A mediocre training session, a loss, a bad mood - any of these trigger him to bring out the belt". I am also very angry at him for breaking up our family.

"I let a lot of people down. Which is the one thing I couldn't understand". "Often he nearly slices my skin with the belt".

In 2005, after months out of the game struggling with injury and personal problems, Dokic signalled her intention to return to Australia.